US embassy cable - 05ACCRA1448

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001448 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2015 
TAGS: AORC, GH, PREL, UNGA 
SUBJECT: GHANA ON THE G-4 RESOLUTION:  AN ADVOCATE OF THE 
AU POSITION 
 
REF: A. STATE 134316 
 
     B. STATE 132429 
 
Classified By: PolChief Scott Ticknor for Reasons 1.4 b/d 
 
 1. (C)  On July 22, the Ambassador delivered ref A points on 
the USG position on the G-4 resolution to Ghanainan Foreign 
Minister Nana Akufo-Addo.  She urged Ghana to oppose the G-4 
resolution or abstain, stressing the need to avoid a divisive 
debate on UN Security Council membership.  He responded "I 
hear you -- I hear you loud and clear" but had no further 
comment. 
 
2.  (C)  On July 21, PolOff had delivered the same points to 
MFA Supervising Director/Legal, Multilateral and Passports 
Dept. Nana Bema Kumi. The GOG introduced the original AU 
resolution in Libya, and Kumi says the GOG is actively 
lobbying on behalf of the AU resolution to all other groups 
in New York.  (Note:  post understanding is that the AU 
resolution envisions expanding the UNSC to include two 
African permanent members, with veto power, and five African 
non-permanent members.  End note.) 
 
3. (C) Kumi told Poloff she had met with at least seven 
missions in Accra who have lobbied the GOG to support either 
the G-4 resolution or the Coffee Club proposal (which 
supports expansion limited to ten nonpermanent seats without 
veto power). Although the GOG has made no commitment to the 
G-4, she views the G-4 and AU proposals as variations of the 
same model for UNSC expansion, as proposed in the UN's 
December 2004 report "Toward A More Secure World." In this 
way, she made it clear the GOG will not support the Coffee 
Club proposal and is working hard to secure an immediate vote 
on expansion. She emphasized that the GOG wants African 
countries to receive not just permanent seats but also the 
veto. 
 
4. (C) Kumi was mildly disappointed that the USG does not 
favor an immediate vote. She said several countries have 
argued that UNSC reform issue may jeopardize other UN 
reforms, but she believes expansion would make more countries 
feel a significant part of the UN. She took note of the USG's 
support for a UNSC seat for Japan and said it would be highly 
unlikely that Japan could receive a seat without other 
regions and countries receiving seats. She did not challenge 
the USG's criteria for a permanent seat head on, but thought 
Africa deserved two seats because of its population size. 
 
5. (C) Kumi made clear the GOG's preference for the AU 
resolution, but said the GOG's final position would be a 
product of negotiations. She did not expect the GOG to commit 
to any other proposal than the AU resolution within the next 
week, but she added that only "a merger of ideas" would pass 
the UNGA. 
 
 
YATES